Here's Korben Dallas with his look at the Asterix and Obelix flick review. I have very high hopes for this film, as my father has been showing me the comics since I was a very short creature, and I always loved the characters and designs (though I never did understand what they were saying due to my ignorant American upbringing) But the cast has me awaiting a really fun comic comic book flick... Sounds pretty good...
ASTERIX AND OBELIX VERSUS CEASAR came out in France last wednesday on the largest number of screens ever (in France, of course): 780. Huge opening, lots of publicity, long lines... Looks like a hit.
Anyway, I went to see it last night, thinking I wouldn't like it. Kind of like: "Yeah, right, big dumb blockbuster, etc, etc..." But I couldn't resist because it's showing in the biggest theater in my town (which is Aix-en-Provence for those who were interested).
So I buy my ticket, sit down, hope to see the PHANTOM MENACE teaser on the silver screen... Disapointment: there was just a 5 minute CG short film. Fun, but nothing to rave about. Then, we got one trailer: EVER AFTER (yuck!). And then a lot of commercials...
So finally the lights dim and I think "OK, let's see what the hype is all about..." And on the screen appears the 20th Century Fox logo, followed by "Lucasfilm Ltd" OH MY GOD !!!!!!!!! HERE WE GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hadn't watched the teaser since December so I could "forget it" a little bit and then be blasted in the movie theater like it was the first time... and that's what happened ! It was like I had never seen it before: pure joy ! I was squirming in my seat !!! At the end I was applauding and yelling and everything, like everyone else in the theater !!! Awesome.
But why am I telling you this ? Because after seing the teaser, ASTERIX just seemed kind of dull. You know, you see the Romans riding around in their costumes and... it just doesn't seem right. It feels artificial. But I slowly, slowly got into the film and I ended up liking it.
It's really nothing else but a big pop-corn movie but it's well done: not a perfect script, but it still captures the feeling of the comic book ; Depardieu is great as Obelix ; Christian Clavier surprised me: he IS Asterix, aside from a few moments where you kind of think "The real Asterix wouldn't say that" (too bad) ; Roberto Benigni is very good as Detritus ; Gottfried John pulls off a cool Julius Ceasar (even though Vittorio Gassman would have been better)...
Claude Zidi did a not bad directing job ; good production values (great sets and costumes: you really feel the money on the screen) ; the only problem is with the special effects: most are good, but sometimes they can look REALLY bad (the flying Romans look SO bogus)... Aside from that, it's actually good: the film has a very enjoyable "sweetness" to it which doesn't feel sappy (do you see what I mean ?). It's one of the rare times where a movie really made me feel like a small kid again. Thank you Claude Berri, Claude Zidi, Gege Depardieu and everyone... way to go !
I don't know if it will ever get to the States but if it does, I recommend you go see it (even if you only recognise 2% of the actors in it).
Keep up the good work !
Korben Dallas.
